Controlling descent of a zero pressure balloon

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that includes a solenoid chamber having a plunger configured to create an opening in a first balloon envelope of a balloon system when the solenoid chamber is actuated. The opening enables gas to evacuate from the first balloon envelope. A mixer valve having a nozzle is coupled to the solenoid chamber. The mixer valve is configured to create a gas mixture formed from the gas evacuating from the opening and atmospheric gas. A heating device is attached to the nozzle. The heating device is configured to heat the gas mixture created by the mixer valve. A second balloon envelope is attached to the nozzle. The second balloon envelope is arranged to expand in proportion to a quantity of the heated gas mixture passing through the nozzle. This expansion of the second balloon envelope creates an amount of lift for controlling descent of the balloon system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for controlling balloon descent, the apparatus comprising:
 a first end being configured to connect with a balloon; 
 a second end being configured to connect with a secondary balloon envelope; 
 a mixer valve positioned between the first end and the second end, the mixer valve being configured to provide a mixture of a first gas and a second gas received from the first end; and 
 a heating element configured to heat the mixture before the mixture passes through the second end and into the secondary balloon envelope thereby allowing the balloon to descend when in flight. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve includes a nozzle and the heating element includes an ignition device positioned proximate to an end of the nozzle. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element is configured to heat the mixture as the mixture passes through the nozzle. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the ignition element includes a protective plating to reduce a likelihood of damage to the nozzle of the mixer valve from the heating element. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes an ignition device further comprising an activation unit configured to cause a spark to ignite an ignition device. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas is atmospheric gas. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber at the first end, the chamber housing an actuating member configured to create an opening in a primary balloon envelope of the balloon and allow the first gas to flow into the apparatus through the first end. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the actuating member includes a protruding portion capable of piercing the primary balloon envelope to create the opening. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the actuating member to create the opening when a failure is detected at a balloon. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is confined to a region of the first balloon envelope corresponding to a boundary region of the first end. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the mixer valve includes one or more gas inlets and a gas outlet, the one or more gas inlets being arranged to mix the first gas with gas evacuating from the opening in the first balloon envelope, and the gas outlet being arranged to discharge the gas mixture through the nozzle. 
     
     
       12. A system for controlling balloon descent, the system comprising:
 a secondary balloon envelope; 
 an apparatus having a first end configured to connect with a balloon, a second end being configured to connect with the secondary balloon envelope, a mixer valve positioned between the first end and the second end, the mixer valve being configured to provide a mixture of a first gas and a second gas received from the first end, and a heating element configured to heat the mixture before the mixture passes through the second end and into the secondary balloon envelope thereby allowing the balloon to descend when in flight. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the balloon. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the mixer valve includes a nozzle and the heating element includes an ignition device positioned proximate to an end of the nozzle. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the heating element is configured to heat the mixture as the mixture passes through the nozzle. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the ignition element includes a protective plating to reduce a likelihood of damage to the nozzle of the mixer valve from the heating element. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the heating element includes an ignition device further comprising an activation unit configured to cause a spark to ignite an ignition device. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a chamber at the first end, the chamber housing an actuating member configured to create an opening in a primary balloon envelope of the balloon and allow the first gas to flow into the apparatus through the first end. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the actuating member includes a protruding portion capable of piercing the primary balloon envelope to create the opening. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the mixer valve includes one or more gas inlets and a gas outlet, the one or more gas inlets being arranged to mix the first gas with the gas evacuating from the opening in the first balloon envelope, and the gas outlet being arranged to discharge the gas mixture through the nozzle.